The Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) is a joint initiative of the European Union, international financial institutions, bilateral donors, and beneficiaries of this instrument, established to finance the preparation and implementation of infrastructure projects in the fields of transport, energy, environmental protection, digital, and social infrastructure.
The amount of grant assistance per project depends on the type of project and is calculated relative to the total investment value of the project. The maximum value of grants in percentages can be up to 50% for sustainable transport projects, 30% for energy projects, 70% for environmental projects, 30% for social infrastructure projects, and 30% for digital infrastructure projects.
From February 2014 to December 2024, the Republic of Serbia has been allocated:
• 23 investment grants totalling EUR 1,019.4 million, and
• 34 technical assistance grants amounting to over EUR 57 million.
The following is an overview of investment grants by sector:
TRANSPORT
1. Modernisation of the Niš–Dimitrovgrad–Bulgarian border railway section: construction works on the Sićevo–Staničenje–Dimitrovgrad section
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 44.666.200
2. Modernisation of the Niš–Dimitrovgrad–Bulgarian border railway – signalisation and installation of telecommunication networks
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 28.375.540
3. Construction of highway route E80, Niš–Merdare, Niš–Pločnik section
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 41.460.000
4. Modernisation of the Niš–Dimitrovgrad–Bulgarian border railway – bypass around Niš
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 35.561.788
5. Middle East–Eastern Mediterranean corridor, rail corridor X in the Republic of Serbia: Belgrade–Mladenovac–Niš, Stalać–Đunis section
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 82.832.827
6. Rhine–Danube Corridor: Removal of the sunken German fleet from World War II in the Danube near Prahovo
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 16.432.000
7. Middle East–Eastern Mediterranean corridor, rail corridor X in the Republic of Serbia: Belgrade–Mladenovac–Niš, Paraćin–Trupale–Međurovo section
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 174.617.354
8. Middle East–Eastern Mediterranean corridor, rail corridor X in the Republic of Serbia: Belgrade–Mladenovac–Niš, Velika Plana–Paraćin section
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 156.447.651
9. Middle East–Eastern Mediterranean corridor, rail corridor X in the Republic of Serbia: Belgrade–Mladenovac–Niš, Belgrade Centre–Mladenovac–Velika Plana section
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 186.000.000
ENVIRONMENT
1. Makiš – expansion of the water treatment plant
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 3.000.000
2. Construction of the “Palilula” sewage system, Belgrade
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 36.752.316
ENERGY
1. Construction of a 400 kV Kragujevac–Kraljevo transmission line with a voltage level upgrade to 400 kV at the Kraljevo 3 substation, Trans-Balkan Corridor – phase I: section II
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 6.600.000
2. Construction of a new dual 400 kV transmission line Obrenovac–Bajina Bašta, with a reconstruction of the existing substations Obrenovac and Bajina Bašta with a voltage level upgrade of the Bajina Bašta substation to 400 kV
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 18.400.000
3. Project for the construction of a 400 kV transmission line interconnection between Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Trans-Balkan Corridor, phase I, section IV)
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 8.878.367
4. Procurement and installation of an advanced remote metering system – phase 1A (Development of the electric energy distribution network – “EDS metering”)
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 8.160.000
5. Reconstruction project of the Vlasina hydropower plants (HPP)
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 16.000.221
6. Construction of a wind farm in Kostolac
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 31.000.000
7. Rehabilitation of the Bistrica hydropower plant (HPP)
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 7.622.276
8. Energy efficiency improvement programme in public buildings (phase III)
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 21.500.000
9. Biomass market development project in the Republic of Serbia (second component)
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 9.000.000
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
1. Construction of the University Children’s Clinic “Tiršova 2” in Belgrade
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 36.170.212
2. Improvement of energy efficiency and integrated energy management in the technical faculties’ campus in Belgrade
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 21.544.983
DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE
1. Rural broadband internet – connectivity - phase II
Investment Grant Amount: EUR 34.408.163
For more information, visit: https://www.wbif.eu/